U.S. patent number 6,182,401 [Application Number 09/186,171] was granted by the patent office on 2001-02-06 for retractable room support mechanism.
Invention is credited to James E. Dewald, Martin P. McManus, Patrick W. McManus.
United States Patent |
6,182,401 |
McManus , et al. |
February 6, 2001 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Retractable room support mechanism
Abstract
Transportable living quarters includes a main frame supporting a
main living area and a slide out room which slides between an
extended and retracted position relative to the main living area.
An extendable member is mounted on the main frame and is rigidly
connected to the slide out room floor, so that the weight of the
slide out room is transferred from the floor of the main living to
the extendable member as the slide out room slides between the
retracted and extended positions. In one embodiment of the
invention, the floor of the slide out room is leveled with respect
to the floor of the main living area when the slide out room is
moved to the extended position by bending of the extendable support
member in response to the weight transfer. According to the second
embodiment of the invention, the weight transfer of the slide out
room from the floor of the main living area to the extendable
member causes the inner tubular member to deflect relative to the
outer tubular member through the clearance provided between the
members.
Inventors: |
McManus; Patrick W. (Mishawaka,
IN), Dewald; James E. (Mishawaka, IN), McManus; Martin
P. (South Bend, IN) |
Family
ID: |
26757335 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/186,171 |
Filed: |
November 4, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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957721 |
Oct 24, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/67; 296/26.09;
296/26.13; 52/64; 52/79.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
3/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
3/32 (20060101); B60P 3/34 (20060101); B60P
003/34 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/67,64,79.5,79.8
;296/26.03,26.08,26.09,26.13,26.12 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Stephan; Beth A.
Assistant Examiner: Glessner; Brian E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Baker & Daniels
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/957,721, filed Oct. 24, 1997, and also
claims priority based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/075,833, filed Feb. 24, 1998.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Transportable living quarters for a main frame for supporting
structure defining a main living area and a slide out room assembly
being slidable relative to said structure between a retracted
position retracted within the main living area and an extended
position extended from the main living area to provide an auxiliary
living area, said structure including a main floor supported by
said frame, said slide out room including a slide out room floor
movable from a raised position sliding over said main floor as said
slide out room slides between the extended and retracted positions
to a lowered position vertically displaced relative to the raised
position and substantially flush with the main floor as the slide
out room moves into the extended position and movable from the
lowered to the raised position as the slide out room is moved from
the extended position, and an extendable support member mounted on
said main frame and connected to said slide out room for supporting
the slide out room as the slide out room moves between the
retracted and the extended position, the weight of the slide out
room being transferrable from said main floor to said extendable
support member as said slide out room is moved toward said extended
position, said extendable support member being adapted to deflect
in response to said weight transfer by a predetermined amount being
substantially equal to the vertical displacement of the room floor
to permit said slide out room floor to move to said lowered
position, where said slide out room floor and said main floor are
substantially flush.
2. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said extendable support member is adapted to deflect by bending in
response to said weight transfer.
3. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said extendable member includes an outer tubular member which
slidably receives an inner tubular member, one of said tubular
members being mounted on said main flame, the other tubular member
having an end connected to said slide out room floor, said other
tubular member being adapted to deflect in response to said weight
transfer to permit said slide out room floor to move to said
lowered position.
4. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 3, wherein
said one tubular member is pivotably connected to said main frame
to permit the vertical position of the end of the other tubular
member to be adjusted to adjust the position of the slide out room
floor in the extended position.
5. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 4, wherein
said main frame includes a pair of longitudinally extending main
frame members, said one tubular member extending transversely
between said main frame members and being pivotally connected at a
first connection point to one of said main frame members with the
other tubular member extending from said one tubular member, said
one tubular member being connected to the other main frame member
at a second connection point via an adjustable connection mechanism
to permit said second connection point of said one tubular member
to be raised and lowered relative to said one main frame member to
thereby lower and raise the end of the other tubular member
connected to said slide out room floor.
6. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said extendable member includes an outer tubular member which
slidably receives an inner tubular member, one of said tubular
members being mounted on said main frame, the other tubular member
being connected to said slide out room, said other tubular member
being adapted to deflect relative to the one tubular member in
response to said weight transfer.
7. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 6, wherein
said inner tubular member is received in the outer tubular member
with clearance between an upper surface of the inner tubular member
and an upper surface of said outer tubular member, said outer
tubular member terminating in an open end through which said inner
tubular member extends, said inner member being adapted to move
through said clearance in response to said weight transfer from a
raised position to a lowered position.
8. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 6, wherein
said outer tubular member is pivotably connected to said main frame
to permit the position of the end of the outer tubular member to be
adjusted vertically.
9. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 6, wherein
said main frame includes a pair of longitudinally extending main
frame members, said outer tubular member extending transversely
between said main frame members and being pivotally connected to
one of said main frame members, said outer tubular member being
connected to the other main frame member via an adjustable
connection mechanism to permit said outer tubular member to be
raised and lowered relative to said other main frame member to
thereby also lower and raise said end of the outer tubular
member.
10. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 6, wherein
said inner tubular member is received with clearance in the outer
tubular member, said outer member having upper and lower surfaces
terminating in an open end through which the inner member extends,
said inner member being adapted to move through said clearance in
response to said weight transfer toward the upper surface of the
outer member, and means for adjusting said outer member with
respect to the main frame.
11. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 10, wherein
said main frame includes a pair of main frame members extending
longitudinally with respect to the main floor and spaced
transversely with respect thereto, said outer tubular member
extending transversely between the main frame members and being
connected at a first connection point to one of said main frame
members and connected to the other main frame member via an
adjustable connection at a second connection point to permit said
upper surface of the outer member to be raised and lowered by
raising and lowering said second connection point.
12. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said outer tubular member is connected to said one main frame
member at said first connection point via a pivot connection.
13. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said outer tubular member is connected to said one main frame
member at said first connection point via a rigid connection, said
outer tubular member being bendable in response to raising and
lowering of said second connection point, thereby raising and
lowering said upper surface of the outer tubular member.
14. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said extendable member includes inner and outer coaxial tubular
members, one of said tubular members being pivotably connected via
a pivot connection to said main frame, the other tubular member
having an end connected to said slide out room, said pivot
connection being adapted to permit the vertical position of said
end of the outer tubular member to be adjusted to adjust the
position of the slide out room floor in the extended position.
15. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 4, wherein
said main frame includes a pair of longitudinally extending main
frame members and said extendible member includes inner and outer
tubular members, said outer tubular member extending transversely
between said main frame members and being pivotally connected to
one of said main frame members with the inner tubular member
extending from said one main frame member and connected to the
slide out room, said one tubular member being connected to the
other main frame member via an adjustable connection mechanism to
permit said one tubular member to be raised and lowered relative to
said one main frame member to thereby also raise and lower the end
of the other tubular member connected to said slide out room
floor.
16. Transportable living quarters having a main frame supporting
structure defining a main living area and a slide out room assembly
slidable relative to said structure between a retracted position
retracted within the main living area and an extended position
extended from the main living area to provide an auxiliary living
area said structure including a main floor supported by said frame,
said slide out room including a slide out room floor movable from a
raised position sliding over said main floor as said slide out room
is moved between the extended and retracted positions to a lowered
position substantially flush with the main floor as the slide out
room is moved into the extended position and movable from the
lowered to the raised position as the slide out room is moved from
the extended position, and an extendible support member connected
to said slide out room and connected to said main frame via an
adjustable connection to permit the extendible member to be
adjusted to adjust the position of the slide out room in the
extended position.
17. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 16, wherein
said main frame includes a pair of longitudinally extending main
frame members, said extendible support member extending
transversely between said main frame members and being pivotally
connected to one of said main frame members and connected to the
other main frame member via an adjustable connection mechanism to
permit said extendible support member to be raised and lowered
relative to said one main frame member to thereby also raise and
lower the slide out room floor when the slide out room is in the
extended position.
18. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 16, wherein
said extendible support member is adapted to deflect by bending in
response to transfer of the weight of said slide out room from said
main floor to said extendible support member as said slide out room
is moved toward said extended position.
19. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 16, wherein
said extendible member includes an outer tubular member which
slidably receives an inner tubular member, one of said tubular
members being mounted on said main frame, the other tubular member
being connected to said slide out room, said other tubular member
being adapted to deflect relative to the one tubular member in
response to transfer of weight of said slide out room from said
main floor to said extendible support member as said slide out room
is moved toward said extended position.
20. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 16, wherein
said extendible member includes an outer tubular member mounted on
said main frame and an inner tubular member, said inner tubular
member being received with clearance in the outer tubular member,
said outer tubular member having upper end lower surfaces
terminating in an open end through which the inner member extends,
said inner member being adapted to move through said clearance in
response to said weight transfer to engage the upper surface of the
outer member, and means for adjusting said outer member vertically
with respect to the main frame.
21. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 20, wherein
said outer tubular member is pivotally mounted on said main frame
via a pivot connection, and adjustment means for raising and
lowering the engagement point by pivoting the outer tubular member
about said pivot connection.
22. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 20, wherein
said outer tubular member is rigidly mounted on said frame, and
adjustment means for bending the outer tubular member to raise and
lower the upper surface of the outer tubular member.
23. Transportable living quarters having a main frame supporting
structure defining a main living area and a slide out room assembly
slidable relative to said structure between a retracted position
retracted within the main living area and an extended position
extended from the main living area to provide an auxiliary living
area, said structure including a main floor supported by said
frame, said slide out room including a slide out room floor movable
from a raised position wherein said slide out room floor is adapted
to move over said main floor as said slide out room is moved
between the extended and the retracted positions to a lowered
position vertically displaced relative to the raised position
wherein said slide out room floor is substantially flush with the
main floor as the slide out room is moved into the extended
position and movable from the lowered to the raised position as the
slide out room is moved from the extended position, and an
extendible support member having an outer tubular member which
slidably receives an inner tubular member, said inner tubular
member being, connected to said slide out room, the outer tubular
member being mounted on said main frame, said outer tubular member,
said frame, and said inner tubular member together being adapted to
simultaneously guide said slide out room into said extended
position and said slide out room floor into said lowered position,
and further being adapted to simultaneously guide said slide out
room floor into said raised position, and the slide out room away
from the extended position, said inner tubular member being adapted
to deflect relative to the outer tubular member as said slide out
room is moved into the extended position by a predetermined amount
being substantially equal to the vertical displacement of the room
floor to permit said slide out room floor to move into said lowered
position, where said slide out room floor and said main floor are
substantially flush.
24. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 23, wherein
said main frame includes a pair of parallel main frame members
extending longitudinally with respect to the living quarters, said
tubular members extending transversely with respect to the main
frame member, said outer tubular member being rigidly secured to
one of said main frame members.
25. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 23, wherein
said inner tubular member is adapted to deflect by bending relative
to the outer tubular member in response to transfer of the weight
of the slide out room from said main floor to said extendible
support member as said slide out room is moved toward said extended
position.
26. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 23, wherein
said inner tubular member is received with clearance within the
outer tubular member, said outer tubular member having upper and
lower surfaces, said inner tubular member being adapted to deflect
relative to the outer tubular member by moving through said
clearance in response to weight transfer as said slide out room
moves toward the extended position such that the inner tubular
member moves relative to the outer tubular member to engage said
upper surface.
27. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 24, wherein
said outer tubular member is secured to said one main flame member
at a connection point adjacent one end of said outer tubular member
and slopes upwardly toward said main floor and laterally toward the
other main frame member, said inner tubular member extending from
said one end of the outer tubular member and being secured to said
slide out room.
28. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 27, wherein
said inner tubular member is adapted to deflect by bending relative
to the outer tubular member in response to transfer of the weight
of the slide out room from said main floor to said extendible
support member as said slide out room is moved toward said extended
position.
29. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 28, wherein
said inner tubular member is received with clearance within the
outer tubular member, said outer tubular member having upper and
lower surfaces, said inner tubular member being adapted to deflect
relative to the outer tubular member by moving through said
clearance in response to weight transfer as said slide out room is
moved toward the extended position such that the inner tubular
moves relative to the outer tubular member to engage said upper
surface.
30. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 23, wherein
said inner tubular member is received with clearance within the
outer tubular member, said outer tubular member having upper and
lower surfaces, said inner tubular member being adapted to deflect
relative to the outer tubular member by moving through said
clearance in response to weight transfer as said slide out room is
moved toward the extended position such that the inner tubular
member moves relative to the outer tubular member to engage said
upper surface.
31. Transportable living quarters having a pair of longitudinally
extending main frame members supporting structure defining a main
living area and a slide out room assembly slidable relative to said
structure between a retracted position retracted within the main
living area and an extended position extended from the main living
area to provide an auxiliary living area, said structure including
a main floor supported by said frame, said slide out room including
a slide out room floor movable from a raised position wherein said
slide out room floor is movable over said main floor as said slide
out room is moved between the extended and retracted positions to a
lowered position vertically displaced relative to the raised
position wherein said slide out room floor is substantially flush
with the main floor as the slide out room is moved into the
extended position and movable from the lowered to the raised
position as the slide out room is moved from the extended position,
an outer tubular member secured to one of said main frame members
at a connection point adjacent one end of said outer tubular
member, an inner tubular member extending from said one end of the
outer tubular member and being secured to said slide out room
assembly, said inner tubular member being adapted to deflect
relative to said outer tubular member by a predetermined amount
being substantially equal to the vertical displacement of the room
floor to permit said slide out room floor to move into said lowered
position, where said slide out room floor and said main floor are
substantially flush.
32. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 31, wherein
said inner tubular member is adapted to deflect by bending relative
to the outer tubular member in response to transfer of the weight
of the slide out room from said main floor to said extendible
support member as said slide out room is moved toward said extended
position.
33. Transportable living quarters as claimed in claim 31, wherein
said inner tubular member is received with clearance within the
outer tubular member, said outer tubular member having upper and
lower surfaces, said inner tubular member being adapted to deflect
relative to the outer tubular member by moving through said
clearance in response to weight transfer as said slide out room
moves toward the extended position such that the inner tubular
moves relative to the outer tubular member to engage said upper
surface.
34. Transportable living quarters having a pair of longitudinally
extending main frame members supporting structure defining a main
living area and a slide out room assembly slidable relative to said
structure between a retracted position retracted within the main
living area and an extended position extended from the main living
area to provide an auxiliary living area, said structure including
a main floor supported by said frame, said slide out room including
a slide out room floor movable from a raised position wherein said
slide out room floor is movable over said main floor as said slide
out room is moved between the extended and retracted positions to a
lowered position wherein said slide out room floor is substantially
flush with the main floor as the slide out room is moved into the
extended position and movable from the lowered to the raised
position as the slide out room is moved from the extended position,
an outer tubular member secured to one of said main frame members
at a connection point adjacent one end of said outer tubular
member, an inner tubular member extending from said one end of the
outer tubular member and being secured to said slide out room
assembly, said outer tubular member sloping upwardly from said
connection point toward said main floor and laterally toward the
other main frame member.
Description
This invention relates to recreational vehicle or manufactured
housing unit having a retractable room in which the floor of the
retractable room moves to a position flush with the floor of the
main living area when the retractable room is extended.
The widths of recreational vehicles and manufactured housing units
are limited to that which may be accommodated for travel on public
roads. Accordingly, it is increasingly common to provide
recreational vehicles and manufactured housing units with a slide
out room that can be retracted into the main living quarters when
the unit is being moved or driven but which can be extended from
the main living quarters to provide auxiliary living space when the
unit is parked for use or when the manufactured home is assembled
at the home site. When the room is retracted into the main living
quarters, the floor of the retractable room slides over the floor
of the main living quarters and hence the level of the retractable
room floor must be offset from the main floor when the retractable
room is retracted. When the retractable room is extended to provide
additional living space, most users find the difference in floor
levels between the main living quarters and the extended room to be
unsatisfactory, and thus it is desirable to provide a mechanism for
bringing the floor of the slide out room flush with the floor in
the main living quarters when the slide out room is extended. Such
mechanisms known in the prior art require relatively complicated
mechanisms and are relatively costly.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, bending of
the extendible members which support the slide out room is designed
to correspond to movement of the room such that in it's fully
extended position the extendible member connected to the slide out
room deflects just enough to permit the floor of the slide out room
to be flush with the floor of the main living quarters.
Accordingly, the extendible member may be rigidly connected to the
slide out room, eliminating the complicated prior art movable
linkages. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the angle of the
extendible members so that the floor of the slide out room is level
with the floor of the main living quarters when the slide out room
is fully extended. According to another embodiment of the
invention, the extendible members are mounted on a pivot mechanism
which is adjustable to adjust the angle of extension of the members
so that the floor of the slide out room is flush with the floor of
the main living quarters. Accordingly, the slide out room drops
into a position which is Hush with the floor of the main living
quarters as the slide out room is moved into the extended position.
The actuation mechanism requires only a few additional components
than prior art mechanisms which maintain a difference in levels
between the floors of the main living quarters and the floor of the
slide out room.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a transverse cross sectional view of a mobile living
quarters incorporating a slide out room made pursuant to the
teachings of the present invention; the slide out room being shown
in the retracted position retracted into the main living
quarters;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the slide out
room in an intermediate position between the fully retracted and
the fully extended position;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the slide out
room approaching the fully extended position;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 1-3, but illustrating the slide
out room in the fully extended position;
FIG. 5 is view in perspective of the pivot connection between the
extendible members supporting the slide out room and the elongated
frame members of the main living quarters;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, detailed view of another embodiment of the
present invention illustrating the slide out room and a portion of
the floor and the supporting structure of the main living quarters
in cross section;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the embodiment
of the invention disclosed in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but illustrating the slide out
room in the fully extended position;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating another
embodiment of the invention, and illustrating the position of the
slide-out room before leveling adjustments are made; and
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but illustrating the position
of the slide out room after the leveling adjustment has been
made.
Referring now to the drawings, mobile living quarters generally
indicated by the numeral 10 includes a main living area generally
indicated by the numeral 12 and an auxiliary living area or slide
out room generally indicated by the numeral 14. A pair of
conventional, longitudinally extending frame members 16a, 16b
support the floor 18 of the main living quarters 12. Main living
quarters 12 further include a ceiling 20, a side wall 22, a pair of
end walls (only one of which being shown at 24), and a side wall 26
opposite the side wall 22, a portion of which is cut away to define
an opening 28 through which the slide out room 14 extends and
retracts. The frame members 16a, 16b conventionally are supported
by a wheel and axle assembly (not shown) to permit the mobile
living quarters 10 to be moved. One or more extendible tubular
members generally indicated by the numeral 30 are mounted between
frame members 16a, 16b. The extendible member 30 includes an outer
tubular member 32 which slidably receives an inner tubular member
34, which includes an end 35 which is rigidly secured to the lower
portion of outer wall 36 of the slide out room 14.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the extendible member 30 extends through
the frame member 16a and is secured thereto via a pivot pin 38
which is welded or similarly affixed to the outer member 32 and
which is pivotally received in a pair of ears 40 which are rigidly
secured to a reinforcing plate 42 which is welded or otherwise
affixed to the frame member 16a. The opening in the reenforcing
plate 42 and in the frame member 16a is sufficiently larger than
the outer member 32 to permit limited pivotal movement of the
latter with respect to the longitudinal frame member 16a. Pivoting
of the extendible member 30 relative to the frame member 16a as
discussed above is controlled by a height adjusting mechanism
generally indicated by the numeral 44. Mechanism 44 includes a
bracket 46 secured to the frame member 16b and a threaded member 48
which can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly by its threaded
connection with nut 50 secured to the bracket 46. The end of the
threaded member 48 engages the outer member 32, to pivotally adjust
the latter relative to the frame member 16a. The inner member 34 is
received within the outer member 32 with a small clearance, but
which nonetheless allows limited pivotal movement of the inner
member 34 with respect to the outer member 32 as will hereinafter
be described.
In addition to the front wall 36, the slide out room 14 includes a
pair of end walls (only one of them being shown as at 52), a
ceiling 54, and a floor 56, the ends walls 52, the ceiling 54, and
the floor 56 define an opening 58 which is open to the main living
quarters and provides access to the auxiliary living space provided
by the slide out room 14. Sealing members 60, 62 extend outwardly
from the ceiling 54 and end walls 52 to engage the portions of the
wall 26 circumscribing the aperture 28 to thereby provide seating
of the slide out room 14 with respect to the main living quarters
12 when the slide out room is in the fully retracted and in the
fully extend position. Floor 56 of the slide out room 14 includes
an upper surface 61 and a lower surface 63. Carpeting 64 is secured
to the upper surface 61. A ramp 66 slopes downwardly from a point
adjacent the end of the end wall 52 defining the opening 58 at a
predetermined angle and intersects the lower surface 63. An
outwardly extending tab portion 68 of floor 61 extends outwardly
from the opening 58 and a portion of the carpet 64 extends beyond
the tab 68. When the slide out room 14 is fully retracted as in
FIG. 1, the lower surface 63 rests on carpeting 70 which covers the
floor 18 of the main living quarters 12. A wear bar 72 extends
longitudinally along the edge of the floor 18 defining the opening
28. Padding 74 is disposed between the carpeting 70 and the floor
18, but the padding 74 is cut short of the wear bar 72 so that,the
carpeting slopes downwardly as at 76 adjacent the wear bar 72.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, a cantilevered beam,
which is represented by the inner member 34 as the slide out room
is moved to the fully extended position, deflects or bends as a
function of the weight applied to the beam, the distance from the
weight to the point at which the bean is supported, the thickness
of the beam and the type of material from which the beam is made.
In FIG. 1, with the room in the fully retracted position, almost
all of the weight of the room is borne through the floor 18 and a
relatively small part of the weight of the room is borne through
the inner member 34. According, the inner member 34 does not bend
by any noticeable amount.
Referring to FIG. 2, the slide out room 14 has been extended an
appreciable amount, but the floor 56 still rests upon the floor 18.
Although a substantial percentage of the weight has been
transferred to the inner member 34, a substantial portion is still
borne through the floor 18. Accordingly, the inner member 34
deflects only slightly, since the weight applied to inner member 34
and the length of the member 34 from its support is such that the
deflection is minimized. However, in FIG. 3, the end of the ramp 66
has reached the wear bar 72. Accordingly, a relatively high
percentage of the weight of the room is now borne through the inner
member 34, and the inner member 34 has been further extended from
its support, so that the bending or deflection is now substantial.
It will be noted that the bending has increased substantially
between the FIG. 2 and the FIG. 3 positions just as the ramp 66 has
moved down the sloped surface 76. The added bending of the inner
member 34 during movement of the room between the FIG. 2 and the
FIG. 3 position substantially matches the difference in height of
the floor the room as the ramp 66 passes along the sloped surface
76. Accordingly, the floor remains level despite the vertical
movement of the room. This occurs because the wall thickness and
material of the inner member 34 has been chosen to permit a
deflection that is substantially equal to this vertical movement of
the slide out room.
Referring to FIG. 4, the ramp 66 has now moved over the wear bar 72
and the room is now in its fully extended position in which the
level of the floor room is now substantially equal to that of the
floor 18. The inner member 34 bends further as the slide out room
moves so that the floor 56 of the slide out room 14 remains level.
Height adjustor 44 can be operated to adjust the end of the member
34 which is attached to the wall 36 by connecting mechanism 78 so
that the floor 56 will be level when the slide out room is fully
extended. Since a small adjustment of the height adjustor 44 is all
that will be necessary to level the floor 60, the welds connecting
the outer member 32 with the frame member 16a may be sufficiently
flexible to allow this adjustment to be made without the pivot
connection provided by the pin 38.
Referring now to the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the deflection
of the inner, member 34 as the room 14 extends may be controlled by
use of the height adjustor 44 to adjust the angle of the extendible
member 30 about the pivot connection between the extendible member
and the frame member 16a to either supplement or replace bending of
the inner member 34 as a mechanism for maintaining the floor 56 of
the room 14 level. As illustrated in FIG. 7, inner member 34 moves
within outer member 32 with a working clearance. In FIG. 7, in
which the room 14 is fully retracted, the lower edge of the inner
member 34 bears against the lower edge of the outer member 32 at a
point 80 adjacent the height adjustor 44, and the upper surface of
the inner member 34 bears against the upper surface at a point 82
adjacent the outer end 84 of the outer member 32. However, as the
slide out room extends, the weight of the room will be transferred
from the floor 18 to the member 34 as described above, thereby
forcing the member 34 downwardly so that the lower edge of the
inner member 34 as brought to engagement with the lower edge of the
outer member 32 at the end 84 and that the upper edge of the inner
member 34 will contact the upper edge of the outer member 32 at a
point 86. This shift in the inner member 34 through the clearance
supplements the slope of the extendible member 32 is adjusted by
the mechanism 44 such that the slope of extendible member 32 and
any deflection of the inner member 34 achieves leveling of the
floor 56 substantially flush with the floor 18. As the room 14 is
extended and retracted, the shift of the inner member 34 through
the clearance between the FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 positions also provides
an accommodation to prevent any binding of the inner member 34 in
the outer member 32 as it is extended and retracted.
Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the outer
tubular member 32 is rigidly secured to the main frame member 16a
as by welding and is adjusted to adjust the final position of the
slide out room by use of the adjustment mechanism 44. Referring to
FIG. 9, the slide out room is in the fully extended position, and
the inner member 34 bears on the upper surface of outer tubular
member 32 at engagement point A and at the lower surface of tubular
member 32 and engagement point B at end 84 of the outer tubular
member 32.
However, the floor of the slide out room is not level with the main
floor. Referring to FIG. 10, the position of the tubular members
32, 34 in FIG. 9 is illustrated in phantom. In FIG. 10, the
adjustment mechanism 44 has been operated to raise the end of the
outer tubular member 32 adjacent the main frame member 16b. Since,
as discussed above, the outer tubular member is rigidly secured to
the main frame member 16a, raising the end of tubular member 32 by
operation of the adjustment mechanism 44 bends the outer tubular
member 32 from the phantom line position to the solid line position
in FIG. 10. Accordingly, engagement point A in FIG. 9 has been
raised slightly to engagement point A' in FIG. 10. Accordingly, the
outer end 88, is lowered from the phantom line position to the
solid line position, thus leveling the slide out room. Of course,
the inner tubular member 34 can also be designed to deflect so
that, optionally, the slide out room 52 may be leveled both by
deflection of the inner tubular member 34 and by bending of the
outer tubular member 32 by operation of the adjustment mechanism
48. Preferably, outer tubular member 32 includes a longitudinally
extending slot (not shown) which runs the entire length of the
tubular member but on only one side surface thereof. The slot
facilitates bending of the outer tubular member 32 as illustrated
in FIG. 10.
* * * * *